A Warm Welcome and Unexpected Calls

The ride home had been peaceful, but the real surprise awaited them when Evander and Delphinia stepped into their house. The warm glow of the living room lights was still on, and there, curled up on the couch with his eyelids drooping heavily, was Ashton. The little boy looked as though he had fought a hard battle against sleep and barely managed to keep his head up.

Evander exchanged a glance with Delphinia before they both walked over to him.

"Ashton?" Delphinia knelt beside him, brushing his tousled hair away from his face. "Why are you still awake, sweetheart? It's way past your bedtime."

Ashton rubbed his sleepy eyes and yawned widely before blinking up at them. "I wanted to wait for you. I didn't get to say goodnight earlier. And..." He turned his gaze to Delphinia's stomach and placed a tiny hand there. "I wanted to say goodnight to my new sibling too."